Heartbeat International Foundationinc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BUILD A GLOBAL NETWORK OF PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARDIOVASCULAR DEVICES, EDUCATION, AND ONGOING SUPPORT FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE.
- Income
- $266,644
- Spending
- $460,812
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 10.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 50%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $100,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 73% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $322,919 spent. HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION INC., DBA FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE AND DBA PACEMAKER CLUB HAS EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE ITS INCEPTION TO MEET THE GROWING AND CHANGING NEEDS OF IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVASCULAR DEVICE PATIENTS AROUND THE GLOBE. THE PURPOSE OF HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL IS TO PROVIDE ALL PROFESSIONAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLANT AT NO CHARGE TO THE PATIENT. HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL ALSO CREATES AWARENESS AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC, BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD, ABOUT THE MEDICAL NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF UNDERSERVED PATIENTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS) THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1984 AS THE HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL PROJECT, AN INITIATIVE OF THE WATSON CLINIC FOUNDATION IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA. INITIALLY FORMED AS A PRIVATE FOUNDATION, THE PROJECT WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE URGENT GLOBAL NEED FOR ACCESS TO CARDIAC CARE AND LIFE-SAVING PACEMAKER THERAPY AMONG PATIENTS IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS.IN 1992, THE PROJECT TRANSITIONED TO A 501(C)(3) PUBLIC CHARITY AND RELOCATED ITS HEADQUARTERS TO ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL IN TAMPA, FLORIDA. THIS SHIFT REFLECTED THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPANDING GLOBAL FOOTPRINT AND DEEPER PARTNERSHIPS WITH HOSPITALS, PHYSICIANS, AND MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURERS. AS A PUBLIC CHARITY, HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL SOURCES AND DISTRIBUTES IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVASCULAR DEVICES AND OPERATES A GROWING NETWORK OF HEART CENTERS. THESE LOCALLY OPERATED CARDIAC PROGRAMS IMPLANT THE SECURED DEVICES AND PROVIDE THE ASSOCIATED FOLLOW-UP CARE AT NO COST TO PREQUALIFIED PATIENTS.IN 2022, THE ORGANIZATION REBRANDED AND CREATED A DBA AS FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE, A NAME THAT BETTER REFLECTS ITS GLOBAL MISSION OF PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING CARDIOVASCULAR IMPLANTABLE DEVICES, EDUCATION, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE. PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN 2020, THESE LIFE-SAVING DEVICES WERE DONATED TO HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL BY PARTICIPATING PACEMAKER MANUFACTURERS. IN 2023 HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO BEGIN PURCHASING DEVICES TO CONTINUE ITS MISSION. FUNDRAISING FOCUSED ON SECURING FUNDS TO PURCHASE AND PROVIDE DEVICES TO THE HEART CENTERS ENSURING RETURNING PATIENTS (THOSE NEEDING DEVICE REPLACEMENTS) COULD BE SERVICED. IN 2023, FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE (DBA) ACQUIRED THE PACEMAKER CLUB, A FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY OF PACEMAKER RECIPIENTS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS, WHERE MEMBERS CAN COMMUNICATE, ASK QUESTIONS, SHARE EXPERIENCES, AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER. WITH THIS ACQUISITION, FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE EXPANDED ACCESS TO ONLINE RESOURCES TO BOTH THEIR HEART CENTER PATIENTS, AS WELL AS THE PACEMAKER CLUB MEMBERS TO INCLUDE ONGOING EDUCATION, PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS, A NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR GOAL IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTHCARE FOR OUR PATIENTS AND MEMBERS.IN 2024, HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL IMPLANTED 138 DEVICES DESPITE A LACK OF MANUFACTURER DONATIONS. SINCE 1984, HEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL HAS SAVED MORE THAN 18,000 LIVES IN OVER 20 COUNTRIESTHE FOUNDATION FEELS THE TRUE MEASURE OF OUR MISSION IS THE NUMBER OF LIVES IT SAVES OR DEVICES IT IMPLANTS, RATHER THAN THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THE DEVICES AND LEADS SENT TO THE HEART CENTERS.PATIENT HIGHLIGHTS:CARLOS - MEXICOCARLOS WAS BORN IN GUANAJUATO, MEXICO, WITH A FIGHTING SPIRIT. DIAGNOSED AT AGE TWO WITH TETRALOGY OF FALLOT, A COMPLEX CONGENITAL HEART CONDITION, HE UNDERWENT HIS FIRST OPEN-HEART SURGERY AT AGE THREE AND QUICKLY NEEDED PACING SUPPORT. HIS MOTHER, ALICIA, TIRELESSLY SEARCHED FOR HELP-AND FOUND FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE. AT JUST FIVE YEARS OLD, CARLOS RECEIVED HIS FIRST PACEMAKER IN 2004 AT OUR HEART CENTER IN AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO.NOW 26, CARLOS RECEIVED HIS FIFTH PACEMAKER IN MARCH 2025, IMPLANTED BY LONGTIME VOLUNTEER PHYSICIANS DR. MENESES AND DR. LIZALDE. HIS JOURNEY IS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE LIFELONG IMPACT OF SUSTAINED CARDIAC CARE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESS FOR CHILDREN BORN WITH COMPLEX CONDITIONS.PATIENT HIGHLIGHTS:MATEO- HONDURAS WHEN MATEO FIGUEROA WAS JUST 20 DAYS OLD, HIS PARENTS LEARNED HE HAD A CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT. AT 14 MONTHS, HE UNDERWENT EMERGENCY OPEN-HEART SURGERY. "ONE OF THE RISKS," HIS FATHER GERSON RECALLED, "WAS THAT THE BABY WOULD COME OUT OF THE OPERATION NEEDING A PACEMAKER." THAT RISK BECAME REALITY WHEN MATEO EMERGED WITH COMPLETE AV BLOCK. UNABLE TO AFFORD THE DEVICE, THE FAMILY TURNED TO MARIA ESCUELA HOSPITAL, WHERE THEY WERE CONNECTED WITH LOCAL THE ROTARY CLUB, AND FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE. "THANK GOD, OUR SON WAS ABLE TO BENEFIT," GERSON SAID. MATEO RECEIVED NOT JUST ONE, BUT TWO LIFE-SAVING PACEMAKERS OVER TIME.TODAY, MATEO IS COMPLETELY PACEMAKER-DEPENDENT-BUT THRIVING. "IF WE AS PARENTS DON'T MENTION IT, PEOPLE OFTEN DON'T REALIZE HE WAS BORN WITH A HEART DEFECT," GERSON SHARED. "THANK YOU FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE FOR DONATING MY PACEMAKER," MATEO ADDED. "NOW MY HEART FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY!"MATEO'S JOURNEY REFLECTS THE HEART OF OUR MISSION: PROVIDING ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING CARDIAC CARE FOR PATIENTS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
- $24,690 spent. THE PACEMAKER CLUB IS A FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY WHERE MEMBERS CAN COMMUNICATE, ASK QUESTIONS, SHARE EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. THROUGH ITS NEW ALLIANCE WITH FORHEARTS WORLDWIDE THERE IS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE PACEMAKER CLUB COMMUNITY WITH PLANS FOR EXPANDING ACCESS TO ONLINE RESOURCES INCLUDING ONGOING EDUCATION, CREATING PROGRAMS FOR PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND BUILDING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR GOAL IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTHCARE FOR OUR MEMBERS.(SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS) MEMBER HIGHLIGHT: ROSE- CANADAWHEN I WAS BORN IN 1962, DOCTORS TOLD MY PARENTS TO TAKE ME HOME AND LOVE ME BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I HAD CONGENITAL THIRD-DEGREE HEART BLOCK AND CONGESTIVE HEART DISEASE. PACEMAKER SURGERY WAS NEEDED BUT THE TECHNOLOGY WASN'T RELIABLE YET. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS) IN THE MEANTIME, I HAD CARDIAC ARREST THREE TIMES AT AGE 2, 6 AND 11. IN THE SUMMER OF 1974, I DROWNED DURING CARDIAC ARREST AND HAD TO BE REVIVED. AT THIS TIME THE DOCTORS SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T WAIT ANYMORE, AND I HAD MY FIRST PACEMAKER SURGERY IN SEPTEMBER 1974. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD 12 PACEMAKERS, AND MY LAST REPLACEMENT SURGERY WAS IN FEBRUARY 2024. MY DEVICES HAVE ALLOWED ME TO HAVE A VERY ACTIVE LIFE. I WORK WEEKENDS WAITRESSING AT A BUSY FAMILY RESTAURANT, I CAMP WHEN I CAN, AND I ENJOY SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I HAVE THREE GROWN CHILDREN AND TWO GRANDKIDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.